Method and equipment for use in rescue service

ABSTRACT

In accordance with a method for making at least one hole in roofs ( 1 ), walls, etcetera, in case of fire ( 2 ) in buildings or the like the hole or holes are produced by cutting, using a pressurised liquid ( 3 ) which while cutting is sprayed into the space ( 4 ) on fire in the shape of a jet ( 5 ) which rapidly evaporates and in doing so contributes to extinguishing the fire ( 2 ), the combustion gases ( 6 ) being vented through the cut hole or holes ( 25 ). In equipment ( 7 ) designed for the implementation of the method there is provided a source of pressurised medium ( 8 ) having an outlet for a pressurised liquid ( 3 ), a conduit ( 10 ), and a nozzle ( 11 ) having an inlet ( 12 ) and outlet ( 13 ). The conduit is connected at one of its ends to the outlet of the source of pressurised medium ( 8 ) and at its opposite end to the inlet ( 12 ) of the nozzle ( 11 ) for supply of pressurised fluid from the source of pressurised medium to the outlet ( 13 ) of the nozzle ( 11 ), from which the liquid ( 3 ) in the form of a jet ( 5 ) is caused to be discharged and to be directed towards the roof ( 1 ), the walls, etcetera, in order to cut through said roof, wall, etcetera, to form said number of holes, and in connection with said cut-through to be sprayed into the space ( 4 ) on fire in order to assist in extinguishing the fire ( 2 ).

The present invention relates to a method and to equipment for use inrescue service operations generally, for making at least one hole instructures, such as buildings of various kinds, cisterns, tanks andcontainers designed for various purposes, vehicles, trains and ships,etcetera, in case of accidents or other emergency situations to allowevacuation of gases and liquids and to rescue lives and property,etcetera, and for making holes in roofs, walls, etcetera in fightingfires in structures of the kind outlined above, for the purpose ofventing combustion gases and particularly for fire-extinguishingpurposes.

Briefly speaking, combustion-gas venting involves controlling, in thecase of fires, the extension and development of the fire by affectingthe gases that generate during the fire. In practical terms this meanscooling the combustion gases and discharging them into the ambientatmosphere via holes that are being made for that purpose, or viahatches, windows, lanterns, sky-lights and the like. The purpose ofcombustion-gas venting is, primarily, to allow safe evacuation of humansand livestock and to improve the possibilities of saving lives andproperty, to offer the rescue personnel increased extinguishing andpenetration possibilities and to contain the fire and reduce excesspressures and temperatures, and so on.

Hole-making for fire venting and fire fighting purposes is at presenteffected essentially by means of such hand-held implements as axes,crowbars and break-up iron bars, angular grinding and/or cuttingmachines, etcetera. More recent equipment and methods use explosiveframes, whereby holes are made with the aid of explosions. Explosiveframes for this purpose are, however, comparatively expensive andcontain explosives, with ensuing strict requirements on above allstorage and handling conditions.

Irrespective of whether hand-operated implements and/or explosive framesor the like are used, working with this kind of equipment is verydangerous, both because the rescue personnel need to walk on forinstance large flat or more or less steeply inclined roofs on thebuilding on fire in order to make the holes, and because the veryhandling of the implements and the explosive frames is hazardous,involving risks that the individuals be thrown or clamped. and, whenexplosive frames are used, risks of premature detonation.

The main object of the present invention is to eliminate as far aspossible the above referred-to hazards and disadvantages and to suggesta novel, efficient and safe method and equipment for use in rescueservice operations for making holes in structures of the kind outlinedin the introduction hereto.

With respect to the method, this main object is achieved in that thehole or holes are produced by means of cutting, using a pressurizedliquid which while cutting is sprayed into the structure in question inthe shape of a jet for allowing evacuation of gases and liquids andsaving of lives and property.

With respect to the equipment, this main object is achieved by theprovision of a source of pressurized medium having an outlet for apressurised liquid, of a conduit, and of a nozzle having an inlet and anoutlet, said conduit being connected at one of its ends to the outlet ofthe source of pressurised medium and at its opposite end to the inlet ofthe nozzle for supply of pressurised fluid from the source ofpressurised medium to the outlet of the nozzle, from which the liquid inthe form of a jet is caused to be discharged and to be directed towardsthe structure in question, in order to cut through said structure toform said number of holes, and in connection with said cut-through to besprayed into the structure in the form of a jet to evacuate gases andliquid and to rescue lives and property.

A further object of the method is to suggest a method and equipment asdefined above for making at least one hole in the roof, walls, etceterafor fighting fires in structures of the kind outlined in the afore-goingfor venting combustion gases and to extinguish fires.

With respect to the method, this further object is achieved in that thehole or holes are produced by means of cutting, using a pressurisedliquid which while cutting is sprayed into the space on fire in theshape of a jet which rapidly evaporates and in doing so contributes toextinguishing the fire, the combustion gases being vented through thecut hole or holes.

The equipment for achieving this further object includes a source ofpressurised medium having an outlet for a pressurised liquid, a conduit,and a nozzle having an inlet and outlet, said conduit being connected atone of its ends to the outlet of the source of pressurised medium and atits opposite end to the inlet of the nozzle, for supply of pressurisedfluid from the source of pressurised medium to the outlet of the nozzle,from which the liquid in the form of a jet is caused to be dischargedand to be directed towards the roof, the wall, etcetera, in order to cutthrough said roof, wall, etcetera to form said at least one hole, and inconnection with said cut-through to be sprayed into the structure inquestion on fire in order to assist in extinguishing the fire.

In accordance with the teachings of the invention a very rapid,efficient and above all safe method and equipment are provided for usein rescue service operations for making holes in structures of the kinddefined in the introduction, particularly for making holes in structureson fire of the kind defined above.

Experiments show that conventionally structured roof comprising e.g.external roofing sheets, insulation and internal roofing sheets having atotal thickness of 20-30 cm was cut through in only a few seconds, andin the case of the most difficult experiment, the cutting speed amountedto 1 m/min. The considerable safety offered by the method and theequipment is related to the fact that contrary to the case when cuttingtools, explosive frames and similar equipment are used, the inventivemethod and equipment do not in themselves generate heat and/or sparks.

The invention will be described in closer detail in the following withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein is illustrated an atpresently particularly preferred embodiment among several possible ones.In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view as seen obliquely from the front,of a fire-brigade vehicle in position of transport, in the subject casea vehicle including elevating equipment in the form of an hydraulicplatform on which the equipment in accordance with the invention ismounted,

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view of the same vehicle as in FIG. 1but showing the vehicle and the equipment in one of several possiblefire-fighting positions,

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the upper part of the vehicle which supportsan operator's cage, parts of the equipment in accordance with theinvention assuming the roof hole-making position, and

FIG. 4 is a view from above of the operator's cage and the equipment ofFIG. 3.

In accordance with the inventive method for making holes in a roof 1,see FIG. 4, walls, doors, etcetera of a building or the like, not shownin more detail, in the case of a fire 2, for the purpose of allowingventing of combustion gases and fire extinction, the hole is produced bycutting, using a pressurised liquid 3 which while cutting is sprayedinto a space 4 on fire in the building, etctera on fire in the shape ofa jet 5 which rapidly evaporates and in doing so contributes toextinguishing the fire 2, the combustion gases 6 being vented throughthe cut hole.

Normally, the liquid is ordinary water but as a rule one or severalliquids and/or particulate additives are added thereto in order toenhance the hole-making and/or extinguishing properties. One suchadditive is an abrasive 14, such as a blasting medium which containssand or other abrasive substances that increase the cutting speed forpenetration of the roof 1, etcetera. Another additive may be a foamingagent or the like which, when the liquid 3 is being sprayed into theburning space 4, generates foam for the purpose of jointly with thevapour that forms simultaneously, rapidly lowering the temperature inthe fire 2, thus further contributing to efficient fire-extinction.Prior to being vapourised, the jet 5 of liquid is converted into a mist30 of finely divided liquid in order to additionally contribute toefficient fire-extinction.

The equipment generally designated in the drawing figures by numeralreference 7 for application of the above method comprises the followingmain components, viz. a source 8 of pressurized medium having an outlet9 for the pressurised liquid 3, a conduit 10, and a nozzle 11 having aninlet 12 and and outlet 13. The conduit 10 is connected at one of itsends to the outlet 9 of the source 8 of pressurised medium and at itsopposite end to the inlet 12 of the nozzle 11 for supply of thepressurised fluid from the source 8 of pressurised medium to the outlet13 of the nozzle 11. The pressurised liquid 3 in the form of theabove-mentioned jet 5 is caused to be discharged and be directed towardsthe roof 1, the wall, etcetera, so as to cut through said roof, wall,etcetera, thus forming a hole, and in connection with said cut-throughto be sprayed into the space 4 on fire in order thus to assist inextinguishing the fire 2.

The above-described equipment 7 likewise comprises a vessel 15containing the above defined abrasive 14. The vessel 15 is connected tothe conduit 10 at a point intermediate the source 8 of pressurisedmedium and the nozzle 11 for adjustable addition of the abrasive 14 tothe liquid 3 in order to enhance the hole-making and cutting efficiencyas mentioned above.

In the shown and preferred embodiment described above, the source 8 ofpressurised medium preferably is formed by a high-pressure pump 17 whichis driven by a motor 16. As is the case in the shown embodiment, themotor may be a hydraulic motor, in turn being driven by a pump or anengine, not shown, for instance an internal combustion engine. The motor16 as well as the high-pressure pump 17 are of a more or lessconventional design. The capacity of the high-pressure pump 17 is suchthat the pump may deliver pressurised liquid 3 at a pressure in theorder of 100-300 bar, preferably about 200 bar, and at a flow rate inthe order of 20-60 l/min, preferably about 40 l/min. In someapplications the pressure may exceed the values above and amount to say400 bars or more, and also the flow rate may exceed that mentioned aboveand amount to say 100 l/min or more.

The nozzle 11 forming part of the equipment 7 is supported at the outerfree end of an arm 18. This arm is mounted for movement in alldirections when actuated by an actuation means 19 preferably anhydraulic piston-and-cylinder unit. A bracket 20 is connected to the arm18 at the outer free end thereof and supports a power-operated rotator21, which preferably is driven by hydraulic means. On the rotator ismounted an essentially circular cylindrical holder 23 which is rotatableabout a centre axis 22 and which is formed at its end remote from therotator 21 with a support 24 positioned in the centre axis 22.Preferably, the support is configured as a more or less pointed studdesigned for supporting abutment against the roof 1, wall, etcetera.

The nozzle 11 is connected to the holder 23 and is positionedessentially in parallel with the centre axis 22 in spaced relationshipthereto such that said nozzle 11, upon rotation of the holder by meansof the rotator 21, is caused to orbit the centre axis and in doing socut an essentially circular hole 25 in the roof 1, wall, etcetera.

By pivoting the movable arm 18 by means of the actuating means 19, seeFIG. 4, at least one hole 25 may be made adjacent one another and so asto partly overlap, see FIG. 4, thus allowing a larger hole 26 (thehatched area in FIG. 4) to be produced for additionally efficientcombustion-gas venting and fire extinction.

Depending on the size and mass of the components incorporated in theequipment described so far, the entire equipment or parts thereof may becarried by hand/hand-held. It is, however, preferred to install theentire equipment on a vehicle 27, preferably a fire-brigade motorvehicle, a trailer hauled by such a vehicle or, most preferable, on suchan elevating mechanism as the hydraulic platform illustrated in thedrawing figures. The mechanism is equipped with an operator's cage 28and at its end remote from the nozzle 11 the arm 18 is movably connectedto the operator's cage. In this case the conduit 10 extends between theoperator's cage 28 and the chassis 29 of the fire-brigade vehicle 27 orthe like on which the motor 16, the high-pressure pump 17, and thevessel 15 containing the abrasive 14 are mounted together with ancillaryoperating equipment and accessories.

To obviate the need for the rescue personnel to walk on the roof 1,etcetera of the building on fire, and to thus further enhance safety,the equipment, at least the arm 18 and the nozzle 11, are telecontrolledvia the actuating means 19 and/or the rotator 21 from the operator'scage 28 and/or from some other place spaced from the area immediatelyadjacent the hole-making area.

It is to be understood that the invention should not be regarded asrestricted to the embodiment as described and illustrated but that itcould be modified optionally in many ways within the scope of theprotection as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rescue service method for making at least onehole in a structure having a space in which there is a fire forcombustion-gas venting and fire extinction, comprising: cutting at leastone hole using a pressurized liquid sprayed from a nozzle, the liquid,while cutting, is sprayed into the space in which there is a fire in theshape of a jet which evaporates and, in doing so, contributes toextinguishing the fire; supporting, with a support arranged to abutagainst the structure, a holder connected to the nozzle, rotating theholder about a center axis of the holder, the holder and beingpositioned in parallel with the center axis in spaced relationshipthereto such that the nozzle, upon rotation of the holder, is caused toorbit the center axis and in doing so cut an essentially circular holein the structure; and venting the combustion gases through the at leastone cut hole.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, prior toevaporation, the liquid jet is transformed into a mist of atomizedliquid (30).
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the liquidincludes an abrasive, a pressure of the liquid is set at 100-300 bar anda flow rate of the liquid is set at 20-60 1/min.
 4. A method as claimedin claim 1, wherein the liquid includes an abrasive, a pressure of theliquid is set at 100-300 bar and a flow rate of the liquid is set at20-60 1/min.
 5. Equipment for rescue service operations for making atleast one hole in structures having a space in which there is a fire forcombustion-gas venting and fire extinction, comprising: a source ofpressurized liquid; a conduit connected to the source of pressurizedliquid; and a nozzle having an inlet and outlet, the conduit beingconnected at one of its ends to an outlet of the source of pressurizedliquid and at an opposite end to the inlet of the nozzle for supply ofliquid from the source pressurized liquid to the outlet of the nozzle,the source of pressurized liquid, the conduit, and the nozzlecooperating to cause liquid to exit the outlet of the nozzle as a jetadapted to cut at least one hole in the structure to the space and alsoto be sprayed into the space in such a manner as to assist inextinguishing the fire in the space, wherein the nozzle is disposed atan outer free end of an arm which is movable in all directions, andwherein the equipment includes an actuator permitting movement of thearm in all directions and a bracket connected to the arm at the outerfree end thereof so as to support a power-operated rotator on which aholder is mounted for rotation about a center axis, the holderincluding, at an end remote from the rotator, a support arranged to abutagainst the structure, the nozzle being connected to the holder andbeing positioned in parallel with the center axis in spaced relationshipthereto such that the nozzle, upon rotation of the holder, is caused toorbit the center axis and in doing so cut an essentially circular holein the structure.
 6. Equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein at leastone vessel containing an abrasive is connected to the conduit at a pointintermediate the source of pressurized liquid and the nozzle so that theabrasive is adapted to be added to the liquid to reinforce the cuttingefficiency.
 7. Equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the source ofpressurized liquid includes at least one high-pressure pump fordelivering the liquid at a pressure of 100-300 bar and at a flow rate of20-60 1/mm.
 8. Equipment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the nozzle isdisposed at an outer free end of an arm which is movable in alldirections.
 9. Equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the nozzle isdisposed at an outer free end of an arm which is movable in alldirections.
 10. Equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the source ofpressurized liquid includes at least one high-pressure pump fordelivering the liquid at a pressure of 100-300 bar and at a flow rate of20-60 1/min.
 11. Equipment as claimed in claim 10, wherein the nozzle isdisposed at an outer free end of an arm which is movable in alldirections.
 12. Equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least thearm and the nozzle are telecontrolled via at least one of the actuatorand the rotator from an area remote from an area of the structure inwhich the at least one hole is cut.
 13. Equipment for rescue serviceoperations for making at least one hole in structures having a space inwhich there is a fire for combustion-gas venting and fire extinction,comprising: a source of pressurized liquid; a conduit connected to thesource of pressurized liquid; and a nozzle having an inlet and outlet,the conduit being connected at one of its ends to an outlet of thesource of pressurized liquid and at an opposite end to the inlet of thenozzle for supply of liquid from the source pressurized liquid to theoutlet of the nozzle, the source of pressurized liquid, the conduit, andthe nozzle cooperating to cause liquid to exit the outlet of the nozzleas a jet adapted to cut at least one hole in the structure to the spaceand also to be sprayed into the space in such a manner as to assist inextinguishing the fire in the space, wherein the equipment is adapted tobe installed in a fire-brigade motor vehicle, the conduit being adaptedto extend between an operator's cage and a chassis of the fire-brigadevehicle, the source pressurized liquid being adapted to be mounted onthe chassis of the fire-brigade vehicle.
 14. Equipment for rescueservice operations for making at least one hole in structures having aspace in which there is a fire for combustion-gas venting and fireextinction, comprising: a source of pressurized liquid; a conduitconnected to the source of pressurized liquid; and a nozzle having aninlet and outlet, the conduit being connected at one of its ends to anoutlet of the source of pressurized liquid and at an opposite end to theinlet of the nozzle for supply of liquid from the source pressurizedliquid to the outlet of the nozzle, the source of pressurized liquid,the conduit, and the nozzle cooperating to cause liquid to exit theoutlet of the nozzle as a jet adapted to cut at least one hole in thestructure to the space and also to be sprayed into the space in such amanner as to assist in extinguishing the fire in the space, wherein atleast one vessel containing an abrasive is connected to the conduit at apoint intermediate the source of pressurized liquid and the nozzle sothat the abrasive is adapted to be added to the liquid to reinforce thecutting efficiency, and wherein the equipment is adapted to be installedin a fire-brigade motor vehicle, the conduit being adapted to extendbetween an operator's cage and a chassis of the fire-brigade vehicle,the source pressurized liquid being adapted to be mounted on the chassisof the fire-brigade vehicle.
 15. Equipment for rescue service operationsfor making at least one hole in structures having a space in which thereis a fire for combustion-gas venting and fire extinction, comprising: asource of pressurized liquid; a conduit connected to the source ofpressurized liquid; and a nozzle having an inlet and outlet, the conduitbeing connected at one of its ends to an outlet of the source ofpressurized liquid and at an opposite end to the inlet of the nozzle forsupply of liquid from the source pressurized liquid to the outlet of thenozzle, the source of pressurized liquid, the conduit, and the nozzlecooperating to cause liquid to exit the outlet of the nozzle as a jetadapted to cut at least one hole in the structure to the space and alsoto be sprayed into the space in such a manner as to assist inextinguishing the fire in the space, wherein the source of pressurizedliquid includes at least one high-pressure pump for delivering theliquid at a pressure of 100-300 bar and at a flow rate of 20-60 1/min,and wherein the equipment is adapted to be installed in a fire-brigademotor vehicle, the conduit being adapted to extend between an operator'scage and a chassis of the fire-brigade vehicle, the source pressurizedliquid being adapted to be mounted on the chassis of the fire-brigadevehicle.
 16. Equipment for rescue service operations for making at leastone hole in structures having a space in which there is a fire forcombustion-gas venting and fire extinction, comprising: a source ofpressurized liquid; a conduit connected to the source of pressurizedliquid; and a nozzle having an inlet and outlet, the conduit beingconnected at one of its ends to an outlet of the source of pressurizedliquid and at an opposite end to the inlet of the nozzle for supply ofliquid from the source pressurized liquid to the outlet of the nozzle,the source of pressurized liquid, the conduit, and the nozzlecooperating to cause liquid to exit the outlet of the nozzle as a jetadapted to cut at least one hole in the structure to the space and alsoto be sprayed into the space in such a manner as to assist inextinguishing the fire in the space, wherein the nozzle is disposed atan outer free end of an arm which is movable in all directions, andwherein the equipment is adapted to be installed in a fire-brigade motorvehicle, the conduit being adapted to extend between an operator's cageand a chassis of the fire-brigade vehicle, the source pressurized liquidbeing adapted to be mounted on the chassis of the fire-brigade vehicle.17. Equipment for rescue service operations for making at least one holein structures having a space in which there is a fire for combustion-gasventing and fire extinction, comprising: a source of pressurized liquid;a conduit connected to the source of pressurized liquid; and a nozzlehaving an inlet and outlet, the conduit being connected at one of itsends to an outlet of the source of pressurized liquid and at an oppositeend to the inlet of the nozzle for supply of liquid from the sourcepressurized liquid to the outlet of the nozzle, the source ofpressurized liquid, the conduit, and the nozzle cooperating to causeliquid to exit the outlet of the nozzle as a jet adapted to cut at leastone hole in the structure to the space and also to be sprayed into thespace in such a manner as to assist in extinguishing the fire in thespace, wherein at least one vessel containing an abrasive is connectedto the conduit at a point intermediate the source of pressurized liquidand the nozzle so that the abrasive is adapted to be added to the liquidto reinforce the cutting efficiency, and wherein at least the nozzle istelecontrolled via an actuator from an area remote from an area of thestructure in which the at least one hole is cut.
 18. Equipment forrescue service operations for making at least one hole in structureshaving a space in which there is a fire for combustion-gas venting andfire extinction, comprising: a source of pressurized liquid; a conduitconnected to the source of pressurized liquid; and a nozzle having aninlet and outlet, the conduit being connected at one of its ends to anoutlet of the source of pressurized liquid and at an opposite end to theinlet of the nozzle for supply of liquid from the source pressurizedliquid to the outlet of the nozzle, the source of pressurized liquid,the conduit, and the nozzle cooperating to cause liquid to exit theoutlet of the nozzle as a jet adapted to cut at least one hole in thestructure to the space and also to be sprayed into the space in such amanner as to assist in extinguishing the fire in the space, wherein atleast the nozzle is telecontrolled via an actuator from an area remotefrom an area of the structure in which the at least one hole is cut.